LOUIS VAN GAAL has revealed that his favoured formation with Manchester United is the 4-3-3.

The Dutchman has experimented with a number of tactics this season, starting the campaign with a five-man defence before experimenting with a 4-diamond-2.

However, starting with the 4-3-3, United ran out comfortable 3-0 victors over Tottenham at the weekend, with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young shining in more advanced positions.

And talking exclusively to the Telegraph, Van Gaal explained that having just one striker up front allows the team to switch between attack and defence with more efficiency.

He explained: “I am the most flexible manager you can imagine. When the players are coming with good arguments, I change my opinion.

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Van Gaal prefers to use a 4-3-3 with Man Utd

Yesterday (against Spurs) is my preferred system. When it is needed, then I play with five at the back

Louis van Gaal

"They need to have very good arguments. It is not so easy to convince me - that’s true. But when you convince me I change my opinion.

“Most of the players here think the manager is deciding that (change). I ask also the players which system they want to play. And then I ask individual players: ‘What’s your favourite position?’ First they don’t want to answer but now they are more open, and they answer.

"[4-4-2?] “No. The fans are shouting it. I have played it but that was to do with accidental circumstances.

“The system we play now is the system that I prefer, that I have played everywhere. Yesterday (against Spurs) is my preferred system. When it is needed, then I play with five at the back.

"Yesterday was 4-3-3 when we had the ball. For example, Juan (Mata) more inside and (Ashley) Young outside. When we defend it was more 4-1-4-1 yesterday. Next game is different.”